What Does 'Seasoning' a Humidor Mean?
Seasoning is the process of bringing a new humidor's Spanish cedar up to the right moisture level before you store cigars in it. A brand-new humidor arrives with dry wood, and dry cedar acts like a sponge — if you add cigars right away, the wood pulls moisture out of them and dries them out. Seasoning conditions the cedar so it holds a stable 65–72% humidity instead of stealing it from your cigars. Skipping this step is the single most common beginner mistake, so it's worth doing properly.
What You'll Need
- Your new humidor
- A calibrated digital hygrometer
- Recommended: a Boveda 84% RH seasoning pack (made for this), or
- Alternative: distilled water and a small dish, plus a clean cloth or sponge — never tap water
Method 1 — The Boveda Method (Easiest & Safest)
This is the method we recommend because it can't over-humidify or warp the wood:
- Place one 84% Boveda seasoning pack per 25-cigar capacity inside the empty humidor.
- Put your calibrated hygrometer inside and close the lid.
- Leave it undisturbed for 10–14 days, checking occasionally.
- When the hygrometer reads a steady ~70%, remove the seasoning packs and replace them with your normal 65–72% Boveda packs. Add cigars.
Method 2 — The Wipe-Down / Dish Method
A traditional approach using distilled water. Take care not to soak the wood:
- Lightly wipe the interior cedar with a cloth dampened (not wet) with distilled water. Do not saturate the wood.
- Fill a small dish with distilled water and set it inside on a coaster so it doesn't touch the wood directly.
- Close the lid and leave for 24 hours, then re-wipe if needed.
- Repeat over 2–3 days until the hygrometer holds around 70%. Remove the dish, add your humidifier and cigars.
How Long Does Seasoning Take?
Plan for anywhere from 3 days (dish method, small humidor) to about two weeks (Boveda method, larger humidor). Bigger humidors and cabinets take longer because there's more cedar to condition. Don't rush it — the humidor is ready only when it holds a stable humidity on its own without climbing or dropping.
Common Seasoning Mistakes to Avoid
- Using tap water: minerals and bacteria can cause odors and mold. Always use distilled water or Boveda.
- Over-humidifying: soaking the cedar can warp it and lead to mold. Damp cloth only, never dripping.
- Adding cigars too early: if the wood hasn't stabilized, it will dry your cigars out. Wait for a steady reading.
- Trusting an uncalibrated hygrometer: calibrate it first (a salt test or an 84% Boveda pack) so your readings are accurate.
After Seasoning: Ongoing Maintenance
Once seasoned, keep the humidor topped up with the right humidor humidifier and check the hygrometer weekly. Refresh or replace your humidification packs as they run down, and re-season if the humidor sits empty and dries out for a long stretch. New to all this? Start with What Is a Humidor? for the fundamentals, and choose your box from our desktop humidors collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need to season a new humidor?
Yes. Every new wood humidor needs seasoning. The Spanish cedar ships dry and will pull moisture from your cigars until it's conditioned, so seasoning is essential before you store anything.
Can I use a wet sponge to season faster?
It's risky. A dripping sponge or over-wetting the cedar can warp the wood and cause mold. The Boveda seasoning method is safer and nearly foolproof, and it won't over-humidify.
How often should I re-season?
Only if the humidor dries out — for example after sitting empty for a long time or during a very dry winter. A humidor in regular use with fresh packs generally won't need full re-seasoning.